Truck accidents in Albany, Georgia, take many different forms. Each collision presents its own complexities and challenges, and understanding how its dynamics affect a personal injury claim is crucial for victims seeking compensation.
Hurt by a negligent truck driver, trucking company, or other party? The experienced truck accident attorneys at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can investigate your case, determine liability, and fight for the money you deserve. Let us empower you with the knowledge needed to pursue justice and accountability. Call or contact us now for a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Albany.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck accidents can occur if the trucker is speeding or tailgating. Large commercial trucks have greater stopping distances than passenger cars. If traffic slows or stops suddenly, large trucks following too closely will struggle to stop in time to avoid a crash. Truck drivers who are distracted or impaired can also cause rear-end accidents because they are not entirely focused on the road.
Truck accident victims often suffer whiplash because the impact of a rear-end collision causes their heads to be pulled backward and then snap forward, like the cracking of a whip. This motion can seriously damage the victim’s neck muscles and tissues, requiring medical treatment and physical therapy. While whiplash is generally considered a minor injury, high-speed rear-end collisions with trucks also carry the potential for catastrophic injuries, particularly if the semi-truck crushes the back of a car in an override accident.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknifing is another common type of truck accident in Albany. A jackknife accident occurs when a truck’s tractor and cab fold toward each other in a motion resembling a closing pocket knife. These crashes are particularly hazardous because the entire truck slides forward and can 
crush vehicles in its path.
Jackknife truck accidents typically occur when a truck driver loses control due to improper braking. An inexperienced or reckless driver might slam on the brakes, causing the trailer to swing out of control. They also happen in slippery road conditions or areas where drivers fail to negotiate curves in the road properly. Trucking companies could also be liable in jackknife truck accident cases if improper maintenance caused a catastrophic brake failure.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle hits the back of a semi-truck and slides under its trailer. In these devastating wrecks, the smaller car can get stuck and dragged by the truck, trapping its occupants inside and 
subjecting them to severe injuries.
Because these collisions are so deadly, the Department of Transportation requires trailers to have a rear safety bar — or “underride guard” — to prevent them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently updated its standards for rear guards but did not mandate guards on the sides of trucks where underride collisions can also occur.
Rollover Accidents
Tractor trailers have much higher centers of gravity than most passenger vehicles, making them less stable and prone to overturning. Truck rollover accidents are often due to a truck driver turning too sharply or driving too fast for traffic conditions, causing the trailer to flip the entire truck over, potentially crushing anything nearby.
Wide-Turn Truck Accidents
Wide-turn crashes are also referred to as “right-turn squeeze accidents.” Right turns have sharper angles than left turns in the U.S., where we drive on the right side of the road. Truck operators making right-hand turns often must swing their rigs out to the left first to account for the tighter space. If they’re not careful, the trucker risks hitting the vehicle following them as the truck moves back into the right lane.
Cargo Spill Accidents
Poorly secured or heavy loads are prone to spilling onto the roadway in a truck crash. Spilled cargo creates flying debris and obstacles for drivers to navigate quickly, which can cause a chain-reaction pileup, particularly in congested areas with little room to avoid oncoming objects.
While inherently hazardous cargo like gasoline increases the risk of a severe accident in the event of spillage, tighter safety regulations for hazmat trucks appear to be working. Less than one percent of the 415,444 total truck accidents in a recent year involved hazardous materials, according to recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics.
Compensation After a Truck Accident in Albany, GA
The compensation you can recover after a tractor-trailer accident in Georgia depends on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your financial losses. An Albany truck accident lawyer will calculate your losses and advise you on what compensation you may be entitled to.
Potential compensation in a successful truck accident claim can include money for:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- Lost wages, including salary, commission, tips, bonuses, vacation time, and other benefits you lost because of your truck accident injuries
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Lost enjoyment of life
Talk to Our Albany Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Were you hurt in a large truck accident in Albany, Georgia? If the truck driver, trucking company, or other party in the commercial trucking industry is to blame for the accident, they may be responsible for your medical expenses and lost income — but their insurance companies will fight hard to avoid paying up.
Fight back and demand fair compensation with the help of the Albany truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. Our personal injury lawyers are proud to protect the rights of injured people in southwest Georgia. With our decades of experience on your side, you can count on us to build a solid truck accident claim that stands up against any challenges from the insurance company.
We’ll step in to handle your case from start to finish. While we do all that, you can concentrate on your health and getting better — and you won’t owe us a fee unless we deliver you a settlement or court award.
Regardless of the type of truck crash you were involved in, our attorneys are well-equipped to offer you the truck accident legal assistance you need. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney.
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